Beware of Hair Tourniquets!

Hair what you ask? This is actually not a joke although the title to my post sounds like it could be. Just want everyone to be aware of them. It's when a piece of hair (usually a long one like mine) gets wrapped around your little ones toes, fingers or ahem boy bits. I'm sure a lot of you have found stray hairs on your little one but with a hair tourniquet,it ends up getting wrapped around their toe (this is what happened with my guy) and acts like a tourniquet. Just type it into wikipedia to see an example, definitely not a pretty picture. My husband didn't notice it until he was getting my son ready for bed and saw his third toe was grossly swollen and purple. It turns out the hair had actually cut into the skin from the swelling. After a trip to urgent care and then the ER we finally felt confident the hair was all gone and thankfully he didn't need stitches. But I was sick with worry thinking what if we didn't catch it when we did, my poor baby could have lost a toe! Its been about a week and a half and the toe is still purplish which has me a little concerned about the circulation so taking him back in next week. Anyways just an FYI for everyone. I am a second time mom and our trip to the ER was the first time I had even heard of a hair tourniquet. Just keep and eye on those baby toes and fingers for any stray hairs.

Hair what you ask? This is actually not a joke although the title to my post sounds like it could be. Just want everyone to be aware of them. It's when a piece of hair (usually a long one like mine) gets wrapped around your little ones toes, fingers or ahem boy bits. I'm sure a lot of you have found stray hairs on your little one but with a hair tourniquet,it ends up getting wrapped around their toe (this is what happened with my guy) and acts like a tourniquet. Just type it into wikipedia to see an example, definitely not a pretty picture. My husband didn't notice it until he was getting my son ready for bed and saw his third toe was grossly swollen and purple. It turns out the hair had actually cut into the skin from the swelling. After a trip to urgent care and then the ER we finally felt confident the hair was all gone and thankfully he didn't need stitches. But I was sick with worry thinking what if we didn't catch it when we did, my poor baby could have lost a toe! Its been about a week and a half and the toe is still purplish which has me a little concerned about the circulation so taking him back in next week. Anyways just an FYI for everyone. I am a second time mom and our trip to the ER was the first time I had even heard of a hair tourniquet. Just keep and eye on those baby toes and fingers for any stray hairs.

This actually happened to me once! I couldn't figure out why my foot was bothering me all day until I got home and took my shoes off and found a piece of my hair wrapped around one of my toes! My toe was swollen but it went back to normal by the next day.

This actually happened to me once! I couldn't figure out why my foot was bothering me all day until I got home and took my shoes off and found a piece of my hair wrapped around one of my toes! My toe was swollen but it went back to normal by the next day.

We haven't had this happen, but I learned about it on my pediatrics rotation. Now, whenever one of mine is really fussy for no apparent reason, I end up searching them just to be sure. I hope your poor little guy's toe is better soon.

We haven't had this happen, but I learned about it on my pediatrics rotation. Now, whenever one of mine is really fussy for no apparent reason, I end up searching them just to be sure. I hope your poor little guy's toe is better soon.

I flip the feet of my lo's pajamas inside out to check before getting him ready for bed each night. Thank you for posting this! Definitely not something everyone thinks of, but could literally happen to anyone!! So glad your lo is okay!!!

I flip the feet of my lo's pajamas inside out to check before getting him ready for bed each night. Thank you for posting this! Definitely not something everyone thinks of, but could literally happen to anyone!! So glad your lo is okay!!!

Thanks everyone. Took him back to the pediatrician today And even though the toe still looks kind of bad (to me anyways) it is getting better. I guess It can take up to two months for the toe go back to normal.

Thanks everyone. Took him back to the pediatrician today And even though the toe still looks kind of bad (to me anyways) it is getting better. I guess It can take up to two months for the toe go back to normal.

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